Download Automated External Defibrillators in the Workplace

A technical reference bulletin by the Risk Control Services
Department of the Glatfelter Insurance Group
A
RISK COMMUNIQUÉ
Automated External Defibrillators in the Workplace
There are 220,000 victims of sudden cardiac arrest per year in the United States; about 10,000 sudden cardiac
arrests occur at work. Waiting for the arrival of emergency medical system personnel results in only 5-7%
survival. Studies with immediate defibrillation have shown up to 60% survival one year after sudden cardiac
arrest.
Improving Survival from Sudden Cardiac Arrest
There are 220,000 victims of sudden cardiac arrest per year in the United States; about 10,000 sudden cardiac
arrests occur at work. Waiting for the arrival of emergency medical system personnel results in only 5-7% survival.
Studies with immediate defibrillation have shown up to 60% survival one year after sudden cardiac arrest.
Automated External Defibrillators
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a medical device designed to analyze the heart rhythm and deliver an
electric shock to victims of ventricular fibrillation to restore the heart rhythm to normal. Ventricular fibrillation is
the uncoordinated heart rhythm most often responsible for sudden cardiac arrest.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when ventricular fibrillation takes place or when the heart stops beating altogether.
Without medical attention, the victim collapses, loses consciousness, becomes unresponsive, and dies. Many
victims have no prior history of heart disease and are stricken without warning.
Causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Heart attack
Electrocution
Asphyxiation (loss of consciousness and death caused by lack of oxygen).
Reasons for AEDs in the Workplace
Workers may suffer sudden cardiac arrest while on the job.
Onsite AEDs save precious treatment time, and can improve survival odds because they can be used
before emergency medical service (EMS) personnel arrive.
A heart rhythm in ventricular fibrillation may only be restored to normal by an electric shock.
The AED is compact, lightweight, portable, battery operated, safe, and easy to use.
Placement of AEDs
AEDs should be conveniently installed to ensure response within 3-5 minutes.
Areas where many people work closely together, such as assembly lines and office buildings.
Close to a confined space.
Areas where electric-powered devices are used.
Outdoor worksites where lightning may occur.
Health units where workers may seek treatment for heart attack symptoms.
Company fitness units and cafeterias.
Remote sites, such as off-shore drilling rigs, construction projects, marine vessels, power transmission
lines, and energy pipe lines.
This is a sample guideline furnished to you by Glatfelter Public Practice. Your organization should review it and make the necessary modifications
to meet the needs of your organization. The intent of this guideline is to assist you in reducing risk exposure to the public, personnel and
property. For additional information on this topic, you may contact your GPP Risk Control Representative. www.glatfelterpublicpractice.com
© 2013 GPP. All Rights Reserved
A technical reference bulletin by the Risk Control Services
Department of the Glatfelter Insurance Group
A
RISK COMMUNIQUÉ
AED Program Cost
AEDs cost $1200-$3000 per device. Training, annual retraining, and administrative costs are additional.
AED Training
Your workers can easily be trained to:
Recognize sudden cardiac arrest and notify EMS personnel
Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Provide early defibrillation with an AED
Care for the victim until EMS arrive
For more information, visit the OSHA web site at www.osha.gov or the web sites of the following organizations:
American Heart Association
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
American Red Cross
Federal Occupational Health
National Center for Early Defibrillation
National Safety Council
AEDs Save Lives
These devices have a proven track record of saving lives in public places as well as in the workplace. They can do
the same for you and your employees. Please consider installing AEDs in your workplace. This guidance document
is based on OSHA publication 3185-09N 2003 entitled, “Saving Sudden Cardiac Arrest Victims in the WorkplaceAutomated External Defibrillators”.
Automated External Defibrillators in the workplace courtesy of
www.OSHA.gov
This is a sample guideline furnished to you by Glatfelter Public Practice. Your organization should review it and make the necessary modifications
to meet the needs of your organization. The intent of this guideline is to assist you in reducing risk exposure to the public, personnel and
property. For additional information on this topic, you may contact your GPP Risk Control Representative. www.glatfelterpublicpractice.com
© 2013 GPP. All Rights Reserved